Pelargonium plant named ‘Duevisoftpi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Duevisoftpi’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; semi-double soft pink-colored flowers with red purple-colored central spots; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium zonale.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUEVISOFTPI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium zonale and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Duevisoftpi’.

The new Zonal Geranium plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vigorous Zonal Geranium plants with dark green-colored leaves and attractive flowers.

The new Zonal Geranium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in December, 2006 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selection of Pelargonium zonale identified as code number Z02-13-1, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Pelargonium zonale identified as code number Z02-0029-2, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Zonal Geranium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zonal Geranium plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since May, 2009 has shown that the unique features of this new Zonal Geranium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Duevisoftpi’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Duevisoftpi’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium plant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely basal branching habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely flowering habit.     -   6. Semi-double soft pink-colored flowers with red purple-colored         central spots.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of the parent selections in plant habit as plants of the new Zonal Geranium are larger than and not as compact as plants of the parent selections.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium can be compared to plants of Pelargonium zonale ‘Gentana’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany, plants of the new Zonal Geranium differed primarily from plants of ‘Gentana’ in growth habit as plants of the new Zonal Geranium were more vigorous than plants of ‘Gentana’. In addition, plants of the new Zonal Geranium had larger leaves than plants of ‘Gentana’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Zonal Geranium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Zonal Geranium plant. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duevisoftpi’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the summer in 10.5-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under conditions which closely approximate commercial production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were pinched one time three weeks after planting. Plants were 13 weeks old when the photograph and the description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium zonale ‘Duevisoftpi’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Pelargonium zonale identified as code number Z02-13-1, not             patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Pelargonium             zonale identified as code number Z02-0029-2, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   General appearance.—Upright to outwardly spreading plant             habit; uniformly rounded; densely foliated.         -   Growth and branching habit.—Vigorous growth habit; freely             basal branching habit with about three basal branches             developing per plant; pinching enhances lateral branch             development.         -   Plant height to top of flower umbels.—About 21 cm.         -   Plant height to top of foliar plane.—About 17 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 20 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 6 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.             Internode length: About 2.3 cm. Texture: Pubescent.             Strength: Moderately strong. Color: Close to 144B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.         -   Length.—About 6.2 cm.         -   Width.—About 7.8 cm.         -   Shape.—Reniform.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Pubescent.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation,             close to 143B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 137C; venation, close to 144A.         -   Zonation pattern.—Not discernible.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 7.5 cm. Diameter: About 3.4 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Semi-double flowers arranged in rounded             hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils; umbels             displayed above the foliage on moderately strong peduncles;             flowers face upright to outward.         -   Fragrance.—Not detected.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 19             flowers and flower buds per umbel; about 110 flowers develop             per plant.         -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions; in             outdoor nurseries and gardens in Germany flowering is             continuous from spring throughout the summer; plants begin             flowering about eight weeks after planting.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to             seven days on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Umbel height.—About 5.5 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 7 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4.2 cm by 3.7 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 2 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 5.4 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 61D and 62C.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About five in a single whorl.             Length: About 2.2 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm. Shape: Obovate.             Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When             opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 68D;             central spot, close to 66C; color becoming closer to 70D             with development. When opening and fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 62C to 62D; color becoming closer to 68D             with development.         -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: About one. Length: About             1.7 cm. Width: About 1.1 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded.             Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening and fully             opened, upper surface: Close to 68D; central spot, close to             66C. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to             62C to 62D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Six arranged in a single whorl.             Length: About 9.6 mm. Width: About 3.4 mm. Shape: Ensiform.             Apex: Apiculate. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 143C.         -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 12 cm to 13 cm.             Diameter: About 4 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 2.1 cm.             Diameter: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144C tinted with             close to 180D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:             About nine. Filament length: About 6.7 mm. Filament color:             Close to 155C. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape:             Oval. Anther color: Close to 61A. Pollen amount: Moderate.             Pollen color: Close to 28A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per             flower: One. Pistil length: About 9 mm. Stigma shape:             Parted. Stigma color: Close to 44D. Style length: About             2 mm. Style color: Close to 41D. Ovary color: Close to 144A.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Zonal     Geraniums. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have been     observed to tolerate rain, wind, and temperatures ranging from about     5° C. to about 40° C. and have demonstrated good garden performance. 

1. A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Duevisoftpi’ as illustrated and described. 